4. “ He (the son), who is one self of his father is made his substitute for performing pious deeds. Then the other self of his father’s having accomplished his work, having reached his age, departs. So departing hence, he is, indeed, born again. That is his
It is thus my grandfather, the manifestation of Lord Ram came into the bosoms of my pietistic Great-grandmother on the auspicious day of Basant-Panchami, at 06.14 P.M. on 03rd February 1873. Place of birth - Farrukhabad (UP) 209625. The zodiac sign - Leo (Singh Raashi)
Accordingly, this newly born male child was named after her Lord’s name, Ramchandra.
My Great-grandparents were blessed with another male child, named Raghubar Dayaal, exactly after a gape of 02 years, 08 months and 05 days, i.e. on 07th October 1875.
Partly due to the tradition of the times and partly due to the reason, my mother was so weak and I was so healthy, fat and squat of built; that my mother was unable to carry or even to give her breast. This was the reason that on her first sight my Grandmother embosomed and started to give place on her own bed to sleep, she also imparted her repository secrets, right since beginning. This is how I became befitted of getting the possessor of her clean breast and I got the masterly knowledge about my Grandfather (Laalaaji Maharaj), as high breast, as an inborn nature.
Laalaaji’s first memorable-birthday was solemnized like a
greatest-family festival. Almost all the Zamidaars of the area, relatives and his bosom-friends joined the party held there in. My Great-grandfather, being a Kaystha Landlord he left no stone unturned to pass round, rather bloomed the flow of alcohol and meat. My Great-grandmother did not used to like it, but of course, she never made an issue of it. When all the guests had went back after the lawn-party, my Great-grandfather came inside the house. It was Laalaaji’s fourth birthday and then he was not a small child to be carried in lap. Even then, out of his profound love for Laalaaji, Chaudhari Saaheb, my Great-grandfather picked him up in his bosoms. Laalaaji did not know as to why at that moment because of the smell of liquor coming out from his mouth. And he did not like his show of love upon him and he (Laalaaji) started feeling irritated. After a successful attempt he shifted down saying that he smelled bad. This had a deep psychological impact on him and he (Chaudhari Saaheb) felt ashamed on his condition. My Great-grandmother left the place simply saying – “See! The children are now growing; you should keep very well in mind”.
After this incidence Chaudhari Saaheb not only gave-up drinking but also developed an aversion to it. Never ever in his life there after he even talked about liquor. My Great-grandmother was never tired of telling of this tremendous change in his (my Great-grandfather).
His mother and father, both of them, were very loving and affectionate to my Grandfather. His childhood was spent in luxury with great care and attention, like any thing. There were lots of servants to attend on both the brothers, i.e. my Grandfather (Laalaaji Maharaj and his younger brother, Chachchaaji); their was a carriage at home, separately for them, ride.
He did not like to mix with other children of his own age. My Great-grandmother till she was alive, was his all-in-all, his friend, his companion, and what not. He imitated her, whatever she did. Reading ‘Ramcharitmaanasa’ was her life. Both the brothers were, although, not mentally grown up but they used to listen to her with apt attention, as if they were understanding everything. Sometimes when she used to read some special incidences with great absorption and as a result of her devotion for her Lord, the tears used to flow from her eye-lids out of emotions. Seeing her weep, both of the brothers (Laalaaji and Chachchaaji) also used to shed tears.
If my Great-grandmother ever asked as to why they were shedding tears, there answer happened to given, “because you are doing so, so did we. We feel a special type of liking to shed tears following you”. She used to then embrace both of them, wiping the tears from the faces of both the brothers with her drenched saaree. This used to be an object-striven happiness, like a lollypop in the mouth.
My Great-grandmother had a very sweet voice and she had adequate skills of singing. She used to recite Ramcharitmaanasa in a melodious voice. In her confluent flow of loving compatibility, not only he (my grandfather, Laalaaji) developed an inclination towards Spirituality, but also an adequate adeptness in music and poetic-genius. The seed of ‘self-realization’ sprouted in his heart due to her breastfeeding-grace, supported him throughout his life and became an instrument for the nurturing of that seed.
Many such tales of his child-hood were preserved in by my Grandmother as her treasures kept by her breast-deep. Often she used to cast that he remained a child-like, even when he became a True Supreme Guide and Preceptor, so to say an Incarnation of ‘Supreme Being’.
Once it so happened that my Grandmother found Laalaaji lying in the bed, wrapped his face with a coverlet. Distinctively he was upset on somebody’s unexpected behavior. The factual story was that some of the regular Satsangi(Associate of the Spiritual Hierarchy he belonged to), had that day joined the ‘Satsang’ under the drunken-state, which he (Laalaaji) had noticed and felt it very bad. Instead of giving him a proper lesson, he took diminution upon his own self. According to his belief it becomes the liability of the person under whose training the novice is giving time for the promotion of his soul. In his opinion, what had taken place was not the fault of the person who had come for Satsang under drunken state, rather it was his own incapability and as a result he (Laalaaji) was sad.
The moment my Grandmother saw him lying in that state, she had soon after come out from the bath-room, after taking head-bath and as a result her saaree was partly soaked (on account of the hem at its end was covering her wet hair). She got astonished on his state, and immediately opened his face. She surprised to notice his eye-lids were wet and the dry tear-marks were still visible on his cheeks. She (my grandmother) wiped his face with her same wet part of Saaree. Laalaaji immediately stood up and looked her bewilderingly and gave a look causing astonishment and asked : “are you not my mother, who has gave me so love full of solace”. She snuggled with motherly love and suggested that you can not do anything, except to pray in favor of such people to our master (Huzur Maharaaj). He is all powerful to take care of and bring them on the right path.
Another similar story, my grandmother often used to animate that Huzur Maharaaj had entrusted to him (Laalaaji) in which he remain so engrossed that he had not able to divert his mind else were, even for a single moment. He had selected some special people for the work of his Master. He used to remain worried about them through out the day and night. He was fully aware that not even a smallest mistake on his part would be tolerated. He used to put in a lot of effort and was fully committed to it, yet he found himself never satisfied. The work entrusted to him was critical, highly important and intensive but the time allotted for, was very short.
One day a stage came that it appeared to him a particular person would spoil the entire show. He used to scold him, reason out with him but he did not mend his face. It appeared to him that all his efforts would go in vain. He got tired of making any further effort and it appeared to him that this might have an impact on others also. One stale fish could spoil the entire tank. Amongst all these thoughts he decided to expel him out of the circle thinking that, perhaps, according to him, it would be the most appropriate treatment to apply on him.
He did so but he went away from one gate and entered again into our house from the other gate. He narrated the entire episode to her (my grandmother). Here she was a ‘Mother’; the mother of all the creation, large hearted, were there is a place for every one to seek refuse. She heard him with full sympathy. She asked him to take rest there or if so desired to go in the inner room.
After the Satsang was over Laalaaji came inside the house. His annoyance had not yet disappeared. He told my grandmother “I have expelled him (by name) from the Satsang. He can not now come back to me”. Without looking at his face or watching his expressions, she started saying, as if laughing loudly and taunting sweetly at him, “you are a father, you can expel him, you have right to do so, but I am a mother, I can not do so”. During this course Laalaaji had changed his mind and said “Okay, then ask him to come tomorrow”. Continuing her amusing family smile my grandmother spoke out, “do you think, he had really gone back?”
My grandmother used to call that ‘he’ (the subject person) immediately came out from the sell he was lying in, just like a innocent child comes out from the bosoms of his mother and started crying importuning embarrassing holed Laalaaji’s arms. He also could not stop his tears flowing out of his eyes all that also had flown out of him, as if it had never happened.
My grandmother repeatedly used to animate the famous quotes of the Holy Bible, which was the landmark of Laalaaji’s Spiritual journey. “A man had hundred sheep, one of which was lost. He left the ninety-nine behind on the hillock to graze and went in search of the lost sheep. When he found that lost sheep, his happiness was greater than that seeing those ninety-nine sheep, which were not lost”. Yishu then said- “Your Supreme Father in the Heavens is like that”.
My grandfather was a healthy child and was interested in studies but even then Chaudhari Saaheb (my Great-grandfather) did not send him in spite of attending the school going age. The only reason for this appeared to be his affection. He appointed a Maulvi (a teacher) to teach him Urdu and Persian at home. He also taught him ‘poetry’.
My Great-grandmother left for her eternal abode when my grandfather and his younger brother, both were of seven and five years respectively. Both of them then were young children. Chaudhari Saaheb, therefore, appointed a Muslim lady to look after both of my grandfather. She remained in the house for about four years. She was an experienced and worldly-wise lady. She really loved both my child grandfathers to the extent none of them felt the loss of their own mother, even for a moment. They also made every effort to give her their all the respects and love through out the life. She lived a long and participated and performed each and every customary duty of a mother of our family. She participated in all the rituals and did her duty as a real mother, in the marriages etc. of both the brothers.
My grandmother used to tell that last time she participated in the marriage of my father and gave a silver coin to my mother as a keep-sake to solemnize the first glance of bride’s face (a love token gift as a part of rituals in Hindu marriages). Her personality and the wisdom left a endowed impact on the life of my grandfather, as he himself has unveiled in his own writings at times.
At about ten years of his age my grandfather admitted to the local Mission High School, on the road-side between Farrukhabad and Fatehgarh, from were he passed the ‘Middle Class Anglo-Vernacular Examination’ in the Second Division from this School. The examining body awarded him this certificate, then was ‘Education Department, North-Western Provinces and Avadh’ at the age of his 18 years.
As is evident from his own writings that during the school studies, the only extra cultural activity was to learn about the Christian religion and getting a close familiarity with this Mission. He has at times revealed in his diaries that the famous saying of revered Jesus Christ, that “it is possible for a camel to pass through the hole of needle but it is not possible for a rich person may seek refuge in His (Jesus) Grace had a great and ever lasting impact on my mind.”
This is perhaps due to my inborn nature, on account of the stated reason, that through out my life I had a deep inclination towards this Religion, to the extent that I turned several times my mind to convert my self a thorough Christian.
My grandmother used to summaries “the turning wheel of time brought us down from the heavens of a royal and luxurious life to a heard and the days of tear-full difficulties in a trice, but due to the mercy of my Gracious Master, our faith in Divine love remained unshaken.
My spiritual-prefect, Rev. Dr. Shyam Laal Saaheb of Ghaziabad, spoke on His first birth anniversary in the year 1973, organized in his Samadhi Campus-
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| Rev.Dr.Shyamlal of Ghazibad |
“Due to our great esteem and love for him, we used to address him as “Laalaa Ji”
His respected father was Chaudhari Har Bux Rai, who was Superintendent of Excise at Farrukhabad. His ancestors were the biggest Land-lords of this area and were regarded almost as a Mini-Raajaa. I have had occasion to have a visit to this ancestral house in Bhogaon, in District Mainpuri. An elephant could easily pass through its main porch.”
“There were many who called two children (my Grandfather and his own younger brother Mahatma Raghuvar Dayal, affectionately called- as Chachchaaji) as Ram and Laxman but I, who have been a witness to their abiding love and culture will prefer to compare them to Ram and Bharat, instead”.
“Laalaaji used to recall that the first breath of devotion was wafted into his ears by his mother. Laalaaji Maharaj was cradled into this love up to the age of seven years till when with the death of his mother, he was deprived of it. There after Chaudhari Saaheb alone looked after him and his younger brother, Chachchaaji Maharaj, Munshi Raghuvar Dayal Saaheb’s upbringing. Chaudhari Saaheb also died in the year 1893, after performing the marriages of both the brothers. After passing English Vernacular upper middle examination, Laalaaji Saaheb joined service in Fatehgarh at rupees 10/- per month. After the death of his father the burden of supporting the families of both the brothers fell on his shoulders. He used to reside then in Mohallaa Nitganjaa, near Ghumna Bazaar.
He would some times go with us to that place and show us the old house, were they had lived. This being a very small house, he shifted to near by a small apartment in the premises of Mufti Saaheb’s Madarsaa (a school of Islamic education).
In the premises of the Madarsaa an adjacent small room was occupied by a very great Saint, known as Maulvi Fazl Ahemad Khan Saaheb. Swaami Brahmaanand, who was then aged more then one hundred, used to call Rev. Maulvi Saaheb (popularly now known as ‘Huzur Maharaaj’) as the Qutub (Spiritual Governor) of Farrukhabad. Maulvi Saaheb was a resident of village Raipur under Tahasil Kaimganj in Farrukhabad district.”
“He used to live in that small room by virtue of his being a teacher in the same Madarsaa of Mufti Sahib. Swami Brahmaanand occasionally used to come and sit with him. Maulvi Saaheb’s nature was very generous. His catholicity was non-communal. As an instance of his catholicity of out-look at the time of initiating Laalaaji Saaheb in the path he bade him to spread his Mission amongst the lonely and the forsaken. He said unless the people are aroused Spiritually they will not be true to their culture. Maulvi Saaheb’s Master was the revered Maulvi Ahmed Ali Khan Saaheb of Mohallaa Mau-Rashidabad in Kaimganj. He was also a Qutub. Both these venerables were the Spiritual-Prefects of the Naqshbandiya stream of Sufism. Though they were beneficiaries of all other streams (Sufism) also. That is why they could vary their teachings to suit the needs of different disciples. They were great seers and their outlook surmounted the matters of the world and the spirit.”
“So far as known to me Laalaaji Maharaj came into contact with his Guru (Huzur Maharaj) in the year 1891. It happened thus; once while returning from Fatehgarh (Kachahari), he was drenched in rain and was shivering with cold, perhaps it was winter season. As soon as he passed through the cell of Maulvi Saaheb, the later asked him to tarry a little, and warm himself by the fire, which he was preparing for him and that will do him good and remove the effect of cold. These words had the effect of emotional magic. Responding Laalaaji told him, he would come soon after putting off the drenched clothes. When he returned, Huzur Maharaj had a blazing fire for him and he basked in its warmth. There after Huzur Maharaj covered him with his own quilt. Often Laalaaji would animate the feelings of Divine Bliss, which the covering with his quilt had then bestowed upon him. Perhaps that was the celestial moment when the deal of eternal love was struck between the ‘Two’ and he had started on the path of Spiritual training, unseen. The formal ceremony of taking him as his disciple (Bay’t) was taken place at 05.00 P.M. on 23 January 1896. He was made full-fledged Master (Guru) on 11th October 1897 and as a token of charity for this conferment the Guru (Huzur Maharaj) asked for as his ‘Dakshinaa’- that he should go on serving the lonely and the lost ones, with love, selflessly and without expectation of any reward, and that he should do on the same flow of passage as he (Huzur Maharaj) had bestowed that day the same riches on him in the name of Lord. ‘Never endeavor to be Master but, as befitting to the times, always have the service of mankind as your motto and always to serve the children of God, considering your self merely as their peon and the doorman. These are critical times and people are seen having so many short-comings that in spite of having the inner desire and will to do so, they are unable to tread the path of Spirituality without somebody’s help. It is they who will claim your (Laalaaji) attention’. His intention was that he should serve all who come to him and never think even for a moment of utilizing the source of any body for his own sake.
“All through his life, he spread his mission with this ideal before him. Even though we were then young, but he would never allow us even to wash his clothes. On the contrary, he would himself draw water from the well for his bath. If even we volunteered to do any thing for him, prompt came the reply that he was not disabled. In brief, he planted in all of us, from the very beginning, the seed of selfless love and ingrained the idea in us; never to assume the role of a Master.”
“Through the period of his posting at Kaimganj, it was his routine to go regularly from Kaimganj to Raipur, a distance of about three and half miles, to meet his guru. Once during such a journey there was a storm followed by rain. He took shelter under a tree, When the storm abated a little he continued his journey to he Master, and look at wonder of wonders; though there was rain and wind on all sides, but he himself was untouched by both. Nor was there a single drop of rain under the tree, where he had taken a shelter. When he reached his guru, even he told him, “so rain and storm could not deter you from coming to me”.
“Once he becomes very ill, perhaps due to gout. He was unable to sit, much less to move. When he was slightly better, engaged a palanquin top to his gurudev and when he met him, the latter told him- “my son, you have taken a lot of trouble in coming here” and he recited the following couplet-(meaning);”
“All those who possess bodies, suffer pain but they learned do it with understanding while the fools do it with tears.”
“Soon after his arrival back from there he had no pain in his knee.”
“Once upon a time, when he was perhaps in tahsil- Aligarh, he thought that his satsnagies would stand him in good steed at the time of his need. However, when the occasion, came nobody even cared to go to him. That led him to contemplate that this is the result of one’s placing reliance on no mere men, rather than on God. He wrote about that to he is gurudev at Raipur giving expression to his doubt that if the state of affairs continued, the entire gathering would disperse. To which his gurudev replied, “The world has come to such a sorry-pass, if they do not want to help us, we should ourselves seek then and help them”.
“He used to narrate, once when he presented himself before his gurudev, he was gambling in water sprinkling it all over his body and drenching it repeatedly. He saluted him and thought that it was not proper for him to stay at that hour and, therefore, he returned. When he went to him the next time, he found him in very happy-frame of mind. He said- “Puttu Laal Ji (he used to address Laalaaji by the names during all those days) you have not given me a single occasion for displeasure. Last time when you were here, I had desired that no body should stay with me. You understood my meaning and returned at once.” Laalaaji used to say that almost all the satsnagies used to massage the feet of gurudev, but he himself never dare to do it, fearing that the feet of gurudev was so tender and his hands were so hard that they may not cause pain to him.”
“One venerable old man of village Bhojpur, near Fatehgarh, used to meet Laalaaji with afresh. His habit was to drain off all the spiritual attainments of others, whom so ever he used to meet his gurudev. Having perpetrated he mischief, he and Laalaaji went their way. Laalaaji reached his gurudev, but the other had a burnt of giant pain in his chest which did not abate in spite of several days treatment. He then compelled to own that none other than Maulwi Fazl Ahemad Khan could cure him. As a result, he made to bring him to the Maulwi Saahib in a palanquin. He told him that his son Munshi Ramchandra of Fatehgarh has deprived hi of his spiritual wealth and that he was in great agony of pain. The Maulwi Saahib upheld that he (Laalaaji) was a very noble boy; such a thing is not possible from him. There must be some misunderstanding. As it turned out Laalaaji also reached there at the same time and confronted by the Master with the allegations of the venerable old man. Laalaaji refused that he himself did not know any thing about draining of anybody’s acquired spiritual wealth. Therefore, Maulwi Saahib told the man, you yourself had tried to play this trick on the boy in an attempt to deprive him of his all, but the tables have turned upon you. “Go back and do not indulge in this malpractice of aim”.
“Brothers, this is an art, which is some of the saints and ‘Fakirs’ indulge in to do harm to others. If one has not attained one ness with one’s Master, such a malpractice may harm such a one for a while. Therefore, whenever you have to meet people unknown to you be particularly careful. One venerable Param-Hans of Bihar was a victim to such a mischief during his journey to Vrindaban at the hands of another saint. He too has cautioned all aspirants never to embrace outside peoples. In the past, also this venerable saint had met Maulwi Saahib of Raipur, at the Farrukhabad railway station and offered him his ‘hukka’. On the next station, again while loitering before reaching the train he offered him the ‘hukka’. This happened several times. He silently watched this trick quiet. However, on the next occasion, Maulwi Saahib told him that he would not be able to reach the next railway station before the train. In fact, the saint wanted to exhibit to the Maulwi Saahib that he had on such a high pitch of spirituality that he could fly in the air. This is fact that some saints do possess such powers, but they do not make a show of it, while others misuse such power. If one does not attain oneness with his spiritual Master, it is very likely one may falter.”
“Once upon a time Maulwi Saahib (of Raipur) was going from Raipur to Kaimganj along with Laalaaji Maharaaj. They come cross on the way with a woman who was stark naked. A huge crowd gathered there and they were apparently ill at ease. For some time he watched silently and thereafter uttered some prayers (Mantras). There was a shriek moved by “do not burn me; I am leaving this woman’s body just now”. That woman was under domination of some evil spirit, who was troubling her.”
“One goldsmith was agnostic and did not believe in God. When the goldsmith was at his deathbed, he suffered from pricks of conscience. He therefore called Maulwi saahib and told him that he was never a believer in God. Was that fact not the cause of his present troubles? Maulwi Saahib told him that there was no time left for entering in the merits or demerits of this dogma. He should now bear with that now. There after Maulwi saahib sat in deep meditation, near him and helped him to secure eternal bliss.”
“A venerable Mazzub used to live in Farrukhabad. During the time, Maulwi Ahemad Ali Khan Saahib of Kaimganj was alive. Maulwi Saahib of Raipur was passing that way and he tested the Mazzub. That Mazzub was a great saint and took offence at teasing. Maulwi Saahib (of Raipur) felt as if some was churning his breast between millstones. He immediately remembered his guru, where upon the venerable Mazzub told him that, had his guru not have then come to his rescue, he would have not unscathed, and that he would have taught him a lesson for his life. As soon as he presented before his guru, the latter told him that it was improper to confront and tease the other saints.”
“Laalaaji Maharaaj has also said and written somewhere that our spiritual gurus are great seers. As an instance, he sited the fact once he went to somebody’s house and began to narrate that such and such ancestor used to sit for meditation at a particular place while other one used to do the same on the other place. When the time of Maulwi Saahib’s (of Raipur) departure from this world was nearing, he called all his disciples and told them that they should not shed tears or fall in grieve at the time of his demise. He made clear that once he becomes free from the trammels of the physical body, he would be able to render all the more help to all of them”. Until his last breath, he continued to pour his divine light on all his disciples. We are silent witnesses to the same phenomenon and continue to reap its benefit; although this is a matter of experience and feelings for all and sundry. This so now and be so in the future.”
“As I have stated earlier that unless one attains oneness with his guru, one cannot attain the highest ideal in the spirituality. Having attained one ness, not only he gains in spirituality but also the tribulation of this world and dissolve with ease. When a person achieves oneness with his guru, no person with a foul intention can easily harm some body or cast an evil on him. Every moment of our lives, we are getting help by the spiritual gurus, who in their twinkle ness helped and protected by the guru. The guru follows him like a shadow. Those who have achieved this stage can fully comprehend the mysterious help to receive from him.”
“Laalaaji Maharaaj used to say that he could achieve this state of oneness with his gurudev with in twenty-four hrs. He narrated this incident to clarify this point- the occasion was his marriage. In those times, dancing girls used to accompany the bridegroom’s party. The bridegroom used to sit in the center of the congregation, while the girls danced and showered all their attention on him, along with all the erotic gesture, common to other class. Laalaaji had to do so unwillingly, but he took the precaution of concentrating all his attention on his guru, no other thought crossed his mind even for a single moment, with the result that for the twenty four hours he was lost in the contemplation of his guru and achieved oneness with him.”
“Another incident relates to his early life, when he presented himself first time before his gurudev. He was serving in the Collectorate and his colleagues arranged a sort of picnic at the riverbank named ‘Ghatiaghat’, where they prepared the Bhang (a sort of intoxicating herb). One of his very close friends Pt. Maataa Charan played a dominant part in this ‘Bhang’ affair. Everybody had to partake of ‘Bhang’ including Laalaaji, which he refused to accept whereupon it was decided by the friends to force the ‘Bhang’ down his (Laalaaji) throat. Pt. Mata Charan threw him down on the ground and seated himself on his chest for forcible feeding. At that juncture of time, Laalaaji’s face assumed the countenance of his gurudev, and Pt. Maataa Charan supposed the same feeling. He thought it was not Laalaaji but some body else. He immediately stepped down from the chest of Laalaaji and narrated the whole story to the other friends. The too were astonished at this happening and to desist from pursuing their mischievous deed against Laalaaji. Swaami Brahmanand also narrated this story. Later on Pt. Maataa Charan turned his follower. Laalaaji Maharaaj started his work at Fatehgarh in the year 1915. Some one of the rest said that the ‘Mission’ took its roots in 1911 or 1912, when plague ranging in Fatehgarh and Laalaaji was staying in the castle of King of Tirwa state. However, the ‘Mission’ was formally launched in the beginning 1915 and amongst to first disciples were Pt. Pyaare Laal and Pt. Maataa Charan. May these souls rest in peace; they were very devout and self-effacing persons. With in the next 3 or 4 months we also joined the ‘Mission’ and began to bathe ourselves in the showers of love and affection. Those who have seen those times can now content themselves in the thought that what ever we saw was a dream, what ever we heard was a story.”
“The sum and substance of his (Laalaaji) teachings was love and service. Even for a short period of three or four months only who so ever came in his contact, all of them, so firmly, tied with the bonds of true love, that not even one dared to budge from his company. We were then youngsters and at some nearby place, the people were celebrating the festival of kites. He took all of us to the place of celebration, and gave each one of us two paisa for enjoying and eating sweets. This was the love, which he gave us in such abundance and he always used to behave with all of us without any discrimination. During the course of anybody’s trouble, he always used to make all possible arrangements for his/her food or medicine etc., which so ever was required then and that too from his own pocket. He would always think of the troubles and tribulations of others as if his own and used to deal with accordingly.”
“He used to say if you have a rupee in the evening of which your friend is need and you need it in the next morning, keep trust in God and give that rupee to him immediately. God will give you much more next morning. Do not shrink to help your friends in need.”
“Astounding things were daily happening but every body felt irresistible. There had once, one of his daughter’s marriage had to take place. All of us were looking after the different arrangements. It seemed to us that the food that was available would not be adequate. He (Laalaaji) at once bid us to cover to food with the cloth, in the name of God, and commence feeding the marriage party. With the result, all the marriage party and whole of the host’s side group satisfactorily eaten but still there was stuff in the stock.”
“By the year 1919, the ‘Satsang’ had had deep roots. During the period, we use to sit regularly, in evening Satsang. Often, Chachchaaji Maharaaj used to come from Aligarh and he used to sit right through the night, surrounded by our company. He himself shouldered the main responsibility of imparting spiritual knowledge to the disciple flock. In good humor some mood, Laalaaji used to call him “Nannhe”, adding further, “I have fed these persons with my love, let them not scare and bolt away, looking to your ‘tapasya’ (hard work in spiritual practices) and its serious application”.
“Once at the time of the annual gathering at Bhongaon, it was a new experience to see the devotees then present. Laalaaji Maharaaj sat continuously from 06.00 A.M. to 02.00 P.M., with out changing posture even for a single time. He discoursed on the topic of ‘awtaats’ (incarnation). The (Muslim) audience was spellbound and was of the view that in some body narrates to us; there can be no dissent (Between Hindu and Muslims). This speech came to public in the form of a small booklet. Soon after the assembly dispersed, the participant briefed the speech to the Maulwi Saahib (Maulaanaa Abdul Ghani Khaan Saahib (may God rest him in piece), he remarked with full of joy, “God knows what wisdom has been inducted in the Munshi Ji (Laalaaji) by our elder brother (Laalaaji’s gurudev), that no one has been able to fathom it so far.”
“I observed several times that Laalaaji had a divine all pervading vision. During the period of my Government service, I had been working at Dildaarnagar, in district Ghazipur. He wrote to me about his visit to my place, for two or three days. It was per chance that he could not reach by scheduled train. I thought he would have changed his mind to come down to me. However, he reached there on the third day all of a sudden, and knocked the door. The house allotted to me by the department was out of the main city. I surprised how he could found my residence and that to at the odd hours of 03.00 A.M. I showed my feelings, how much trouble he would have crossed through in finding out my house at such a remote place. He replied that he had come straight to the house and it was only this door, which he had knocked, adding that it had seemed to him, which had already been managed much before. The same thing repeated once more, while I was seriously ill in Lucknow and he again came straight to my residence, without having any knowledge about the situation of the same. He often used to say that he visits at least once in every twenty hours to each disciple. Like his own gurudev, he too used to follow the devotees like shadow. Once Bhaai Saahib, Dr. Shree Krishna Laal left from Sikandrabad (UP) and by the time he arrived at Shikohabad he had a severe attack of cholera. There he made to admitted in the hospital by his colleagues. When he reached Fatehgarh later in the morning, on interrogation by Laalaaji as to how he was feeling then, he informed that he was better. Exactly on the same time when Dr. Shree Krishna Laal was ill at Shikohabad, while some body wanted to speak with Laalaaji at Fatehgarh, he avoided talking to so engrossed and he continued in own thoughts. Anxiety on his countenance shows that at that moment, he was deeply involved in Bhaai Saahib’s indisposition at Shikohabad and he was silently praying for his fast recovery.”
“He was deadly against liquor. Once, at the occasion of Deepawali-festiwal, one of his relatives invited him to his house. When he reached there, he found, that some ‘satsangies’ in the company of their relations were partaking the liquor. In the morning when I called upon him, I found him lying with his face covered. Jijji (Laalaaji’s wife) told me that he was said and unhappy since last night at the thought even after sitting in his company these persons could not shun that evil society of drunkard when the concerned person knew about his unhappiness, he gave up taking liquor altogether.”
“He was in great favor of widow marriages. One person who was not even a ‘satsangi’ expressed a desire of widow-marriage. He was apprehensive that his relations would not participate there in, openly.”
“Laalaaji Maharaaj came forward and materialized the celebration from his own house. The pair who married thus led a happy life with his family.”
“One particular instance, to which we are witnesses, is worth mentioning. One boy named ‘Munnaa’ fell seriously ill. Some three or four doctors, who had come to him, went with him to see the boy at Farrukhabad. We asked him as to how he was arranging for his treatment within his meager income. We of course offered to contribute with money. However, he did not accept saying that Laalaaji Maharaaj had given him Rs. 50/- the previous day for his treatment. On returning, we found that Laalaaji had arranged that money on his own resources, with great difficulty.”
“One of my classmates and me used to go to Laalaaji for meditation. Once while we were going together, he showed his inability for he was going some of his relations leaving word that he would soon be coming back. When he came back after some time, and sat for meditation, he could not concentrate as he was afflicted with undesirable thoughts and informed to Laalaaji. After sitting with Laalaaji for some time as we asked his permission to leave, he asked him “how did he felt now?” He replied that he could meditate well then and was happy. Laalaaji admonished him not to partake of meals from all and sundries. In the way, I asked him how it was. He clarified that his made servant had brought the meals from some other place, which he had taken. This all was visible to the eyes of Laalaaji, which could detect as soon as he came to him that he had eat the undesirable food.”
“Once I had gone to Laalaaji, after a walk of several miles in the scorching heat of June. As a result, I had several bloody vomits on the way and was consequently very weak. My clothes were also soiled. I thought that I should not appear before Laalaaji in those dirty clothes. Therefore, I first took bath, changed the cloths and walked slowly to his house. No sooner did I touch his feet, he asked why had I come in such blazing son? I felt almost fit and strong and all the troubles vanished. His affection is but a sad memory now difficult to come across again in life.”
“The affection of Laalaaji and the many benediction of Chachchaaji Maharaaj, both are evergreen in the minds of old devotees. That was a wonderful time. Laalaaji Maharaaj himself used to say then that the small assemblage of his could dare the biggest following of others in matters spiritual. I have traveled a lot and have come across a many saints, some of whom were presiding deities of their sects. They had unequivocally stated that we have a jewel (Diamond) amongst us and still we are mum, while others, who do not know any thing about spirituality, make all the fuss with great pomp and show. Even those great saints paid fulsome homage to Laalaaji Maharaaj.”
“Laalaaji Maharaaj used to say that one who has sat in meditation with him for as little, as three days could spiritually activate the heart of others. We were but silent spectator’s of this marvelous phenomenon. To be a vain scholar is an entirely different matter from leading a practical life of devotion and spirituality.”
“When the number of satsnagies began to multiply, he suggested that we should fix suitable holiday to meet here. Those times the four days Easter holiday considered the most suitable for the purpose. This was decided in the year 1921 and the first “Bhandara” commenced in that year during Easter holidays.”
“In the year 1921, Chachchaaji Maharaaj fell seriously ill and every hope of recovery diminished almost. Chachchaaji made to have full faith on the person under whose treatment had to undergone. Soon after such a ‘vaidya’ commenced his treatment, the same continued but all of us who were then present were convince that Laalaaji Maharaaj had donated a portion of his own life span for Chachchaaji and save him from certain death. This is evident from another fact. Chachchaaji Maharaaj told us that he will go before Laalaaji, but when Laalaaji went first, I asked Chachchaaji how he declared that in 1921, during his serious illness, Laalaaji had transferred a part of his life span to him and lengthened his life.”
“One of my friends in his letter to Laalaaji complained that for a long time he had not received any letter from him, from which he assumed that Laalaaji was displeased with him. To this, he sent an affectionate reply, which is available in his published letters- concluding with the words, “I constantly see your eyes”. This was all his embarrassing love.”
“He had a very sweet voice as singer. He would often say that his singing was all spiritual, that is why it was so sweet. His fame as a singer reached to the extent that a reputed theatrical company offered him a salary of Rs. 200/- P.M. in those times, he simply refused to accept. However, he was always ready to sing as an amateur for disseminating spirituality.”
“Once he was serving under a Deputy Collector, who called him for listing to his music. Since the Deputy Collector was a spiritual bent of mind, he went there. He called him repeatedly; he went there for the purpose. On the third occasion when the peon of the Deputy Collector came to invite him, we were then sitting with him; he declined and told the peon telling him that he was not a professional musician and cannot pay court to him. He had gone to him previously because the Saahib was of a spiritual bent of mind.”
“When he fell ill, he took care to go to meet all his devotees. Beginning with Sikandrabad in the first trip, he went to Bulandshahar and Etah. In the next trip, he went to Kanpur also. When he started from Bulandshahar, in car, he embraced everybody, which was unusual with him. It struck me then that we may not meet him again. He then onward made his mind to live in ‘Navadia’. If arrangements could made for some helper and milk supply, the fresh open of that place would be particularly beneficial to him. It was the ‘Navadia’, which he had (perhaps) chosen for final resting place. This is the same ‘Navadia’, where his Samaadhi is now situated.”
“Such was his devotion that he became one with his gurudev. So far as I know, he passed away on the same day on which his gurudev his mortal remains.”
At the time of the last Bhandara in his lifetime, he used to repeat often-
“Dame waapisi bar sare raah hai,
Azeezo, ab Allah-hi- Allah hai
Waadae wasl choon sabad nazdeek
Aatash shauk tez tar gardad”
(Now the time to come back home is on the way. O my loved ones, it is God and God alone. The time to fulfill the promise of oneness is very near now. ……)
“Never will he disclose the secret of on follower to another. I was very close to Bhaai Saahib (Dr. Shree Krishna Laal of Sikandrabad) and this he also knew. Still he will never pass on my secret to him or his to me. However, he used to discuss such secrets amongst over selves; such was his etiquette and culture.”
“His whole life was a sage of neatness, love, service, etiquette and a life of sharing the tribulations of others and all this with out thought of self. That was, secret of the bond with which we all came so close to each other. However, much we may have traveled; we did not come across like him- a soul who bestowed the deepest of the soul to us with out enforcing rigorous discipline.”
“This was possible due to his unbounded love for every body.”
“To day, so far as we have been able to gauge, he has left behind a following of five/six lacks of devotees, be they attached to any of his disciples, they are found every where in this world.”
“Our spiritual teachers are always waiting for us. If we brothers continue to work with courage and devotion, we will bring all the greater glory to the Master.
May god bring peace to his soul and let his spiritual love continue to be showered on us all now and hereafter.”
